Up The Hill And Down The Slope.

Good Morning.As always, we offer a cup of coffee (fair trade only, please) to the first person to correctly identify the source material for the title of this morning's post.It's the first day after the Labor Day holiday, which means things are only going to pick up speed from here. Hang on tight. Should be an interesting fall.The rest of today's news starts after the jump.

How We Spent Our Sunday.10:15 A.M.: Realize that Casey/Santorum debate starts in a few minutes. Feel pangs of anticipation ... or is that dread?10:16 A.M.: Remember that TV set is still broken, and thus, we will not be watching debate this morning.10:30 A.M.: Leave for baptism of friend's baby. Fiddle with radio dial, wondering if debate might be on the AM band somewhere. Realize it isn't. Fiddle with Capitol Ideas iPod and settle on some Sunday morning dub, because Baby Capitol Ideas has fallen asleep in the back seat.12:30 P.M.: First person asks us whether we've seen the debate. No, we answer, we haven't because the TV is broken. Make lame joke about how liberating it is not to have a TV. Silently curse under breath.1:30 P.M. Nap -- for everyone.4:30 P.M.: Wandering the Harrisburg riverfront with Baby and Mrs. Capitol Ideas during annual Kipona Festival. Run into Casey-ite who hasn't seen debate either. Feel slightly better about self.7:30 P.M.: With Baby Capitol Ideas safely asleep, fire up laptop to read Associated Pressand various online accounts.7:50 P.M.: Begin reading Meet The Press debate transcript. Casey goes first. Eyelids getting heavier.7:55 P.M.: Fall asleep, realizing that's what we probably would have done if we'd heard Casey droning in person..

Following The Money Dept.Courtesy of our Washington colleague Josh Drobnyk, we learn this morning that Our Rick and Hermetic Bob, besides being electrifying debaters, also raise gobs of cash from out-of-state sources.How much is that, exactly?Nearly half the $10.3 million that Santorum has received in itemized
individual donations during that time came from outside Pennsylvania. Casey, meanwhile, drew more than a third (38 percent) of his $7.2 million in itemized contributions from the rest of the United States.
Taken together, the two campaigns raised at least $7.8 million from non-Pennsylvanians between Jan. 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006, drawing
dollars from every state in the country.Saying what we were thinking, Wilkes University poli-sci guy Thomas Baldino put it best:"The fact is, is that it is a hotly contested election,'' Baldino said, no doubt stroking his chin and thinking great thoughts as he did. ''Both sides are
pouring a lot of money into this race.''Yeah .. but can they make $24 million just by selling the family bank?

Speaking Of Gobs Of Cash ...National Democrats and Republicans have taken out a mind-boggling $16.1 million worth of commercial time on Philadelphia's TV stations in the month leading up to the Nov. 7 elections.The beneficiaries of all this largess? The six people gunning for three, hotly contested suburban Philadelphia congressional seats, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports this morning.Spending by Republicans accounts for about $8.4 million of the ad blitz, while Democrats have taken out $7.7 million to bolster the chances for their challengers.And that doesn't count what the candidates themselves, or political action committees, are spending on their own. "There's an amazing amount," Philly-based political consultant Doc Sweitzer said in a classic bit of understatement. "But the stakes are high, and there's no presidential election."

But Guess Who Won't Be Appearing ...... in those Republican commercials (hint: rhymes with President of the United States)?Thanks to President Bush's plunging approval ratings, incumbent GOP CongressmenJim Gerlach, Curt Weldon and Mike Fitzpatrick are all racing to distance themselvesfrom the White House's current occupant, the Inky also reports this morning.Fitzpatrick, for instance, recently called Bush's stay-the-course policy in Iraq "extreme," while Weldon describes himself on his campaign posters as an "independent fighter for us."But all that national Republican money? That's just fine ...

Got Nothing Else To Do On Sept. 11?
If you're not too busy recognizing the fifth anniversary of the most
disastrous terrorist attack ever to take place on American soil, why
not attend a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood, R-10th?
It'll take $100 minimum to get you through the door, but deep-pocketed
fatcats can throw in for $500 or $1,000 -- if they're so inclined -- to
attend the breakfast at the Riverstone Inn and Wildfire Grill on Route 6 in Towanda.
And remember, if you can, to stop eating long enough to observe a moment of silence around 8:45 a.m.

Like Feeding A Raccoon Dept.Conservative 'blogger Chris Lilik gets a little love in the pages of the Scranton Times-Tribune this morning. Harrisburg reporter Michael Race alternately describes Lilik as an annoyance to mainstream Republicans, an icon to young conservatives and begrudgingly respected by his rivals on the left.And nervous as a cat ... don't forget nervous as a cat.

In The Blogosphere:Keystone Politics on Santorum and Casey's out-of-state cash flow; GrassrootsPA on mayoral changes in Pittsburgh; Young Philly Politics on how to recognize an oligarchy when you see one; Above Average Jane interviews Democratic 161st state House District candidate Bryan Lentz (AKA: The guy running against Tom Gannon); Tony Phyrillas says the American left blames the POTUS for poverty (actually, we think they blame him for making it worse.); FreePA post-games the Casey/Santorum debate; Two Political Junkies on how long Luke Ravenstahl is going to be mayor of Pittsburgh; Perry Christopher on Scranton and Swann campaigning together in ... er ... Scranton; PennPatriot says he's sick of Terry Madonna; Dave Ralis on having to labor on Labor Day; Tom Ferrick offers his analysis on Santorum/Casey; PSoTD has some further thoughts on Labor Day; New 'blog: I've Made A Huge Tiny Mistake; Brett Lieberman notes that the start of the fall Congressional session coincides with the first day of Kindergarten (nice one, Brett); It's Cheers 'n Jeers Tuesday at Daily Kos; Red State on the charmingly anachronistic notion that law enforcement should be involved in catching terrorists; It's Wonkette's daily briefing; DCist has our Picture of the Day (TM); Andrew Sullivan finds an old picture of George Allen; Powerline says the kidnapped Israeli soldier is finally going to be released; Political Animal on Patriot Games; Politics1 has a Florida primary preview; Stu Rothenberg projects on the GOP's November chances; A little light reading from Hotline, and Arianna Huffington calls for an epidemic of fearlessness.On the Capitol Ideas iPod This Morning:Today, we're rocking a mix that comes courtesy of one of our favorite MP3 'blogs, Mars Needs Guitars. It's a 14-track playlist of some of the better TV commercial music of the past few years. It includes tunes from The Polyphonic Spree, The Walkmen, Mazzy Star, Gomez and Peter Gabriel.

Monday's Gratuitous Soccer Link:With just a handful of matches remaining to them before the start of the post-season, we can happily report that Capitol Ideas' beloved D.C. Unitedprevailed 2-1 over Chivas USA on the road on Sunday.With the win, United remain atop the MLS Eastern Division, 11 points ahead of second-place Chicago. Thanks to a lackluster August, United's position is not as unassailable as it was early in the season, but a play-off berth is assured.